"You barely even have a chance" -Counselor

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I really want to go to UT, but my counselor pretty much told me to not waste my time applying there :(
Is he right??</p>

<p>I want to major in Mechanic engineering or computer science
In state texas
Sat: 720m 660w 610cr
Rank: Top 14% (78/554)
GPA is 3.44 uw
I've taken all AP/Pre-AP classes but no AP tests so far
I'm Hispanic
My Ecs are good, founded 4 clubs, president of 3, other leader in two other clubs
All state band 2x
Senior course load: AP English, AP Stat, Astronomy, AP govt, AP macroeco, AP calculus
Three job experiences
An engineering internship during high school</p>

<p>Is he right? Is it pretty much guaranteed failure? :(
I'm really worried and I can't stop thinking about what I'm gonna do!!</p>

2

<p>Rank: Top 14% (78/554)</p>

<p>The GC is probably concerned about your ranking. </p>

<p>What about TAMU? you probably have assured entrance due to scores, right?</p>

<p>What is your weighted GPA?</p>

3

<p>You might have a shot at getting in as CS (liberal arts/sciences college) but not as MechE.</p>

4

<p>She’s sort of right. You never know with UT, 75% of the class could be auto-admits.</p>

5

<p>It’s a reach but I think you have a chance (in CS), primarily because your SAT scores are in range. Maybe your essay will knock their socks off.</p>

<p>It’s worth applying, but you definitely need a few matches and safeties.</p>

6

<p>Well TAMU is a safety because I’m automatically accepted and it’s a pretty good school. I’m pretty much only applying to these two</p>

7

<p>Definitely apply. You shouldn’t let this counselor impact your decision to apply. Send in your best shot and see what happens. Good luck!</p>

8

<p>UT is very big on class rank and I think that was one of the issues brought up in the Fisher vs. UT legal case. Your counselor has a point but I agree with everyone else who says that you should definitely give it a shot so you don’t wonder “what if?”</p>

9

<p>80% of the UT class is made up of people who ranked in the top 7% of their high school. That leaves only 20% spots for out of state, international students, and non-top 7% students. That’s a lot of competition for these few spots.
So, your odds are really, really low. DO apply, with great essays and ECs and recommendations, as a reach: you never know.
However, you shouldn’t only apply to those two. Indeed, since UT is a high reach, that leaves only TAMU. And what if TAMU does not offer a financial aid package that’s good enough? What will you do? At the very least apply to 2 other schools at that level, including privates out of state (NOT publics out of state – unless they have large merit scholarships for top students. Check out U Alabama for example.) This way, even if you intend to attend TAMU, you can choose the school that offers the best financial aid package, and you can negotiate with TAMU to see if they could increase yours based on what … SU or U of … offered.</p>

10

<p>*That leaves only 20% spots for out of state, international students, and non-top 7% students. That’s a lot of competition for these few spots. *</p>

<p>Right…and a number of those 20% would be athletes and other talent students. I’m guessing that someone with an amazing artistic portfolio or performing talent can be “hooked” to get one of those spots. Some of those spots may also go to employees, their spouses, and their kids.</p>

11

<p>Since you have an auto admit to TAMU go ahead and apply. There is a chance, though slim.</p>

12

<p>If you were planning to apply to Texas your application should have been in place by now. The sooner you submit the better. If you wait for the deadline, I am sure your chance will be close to none.</p>

13

<p>I did apply to both already, hope it helps. My school is so lazy, they’re taking 3 weeks to give me a transcript to send.</p>

14

<p>Your transcript doesn’t need to be there with your application. Colleges realize that is not something you can control. And I think normally it goes directly from the school, not through the student.</p>

15

<p>

</p>

<p>Not sure where that data came from.</p>

<p>According to the latest data from UT only 71.7% of the 2012 admission class was in the top 10% of their class. 90.5% of the the freshman were in the top 25% of their graduating class.</p>

<p>UT attempts to fill 75% of their freshman class with auto-admits. Sometimes they go over and sometimes they are under. They never know how many will actually attend. I think the class of 2012 was high in the number that attended out of the auto-admits. </p>

<p>Remember that many of the top 7% will go off to other schools. </p>

<p>There maybe more room than you think.</p>

16

<p>Assume 75% are auto-admits. About 10-11% will be OOS/International. So, about 15% for holistic admissions. With over 8,000+ incomming Freshmen, that would come out to about 1,200+ slots that are allocated through holistic admissions. Take into account that UT-Austin gives out something less than 200 athletic scholarships a year. </p>

<p>So at least 1000+ slots are available (plus the OOS slots, if UT doesn’t dedicated them to OSS or International students).</p>

17

<p>Many of the seats are for athletes. So I wouldn’t assume 15% for holistic admits.</p>

18

<p>The University is to automatically admit enough students to fill 75% of available ** Texas resident spaces. **</p>